Aimilia Kamvisi, Konstantina Mpalli and Maristsa Mavrapidou stand for a portrait in Skala Sykamineas on the island of Lesvos, Greece. In 2015, when thousands of refugees arrived daily on the shores around Skala Sykamineas, many villagers opened their arms, provided food and rescued them from unseaworthy boats. Several of them, including Kamvisi, were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

A stranded refugee ship seen near Eftalou on the island of Lesvos, Greece. In 2015, thousands of refugees arrived daily on the shores of Lesvos sometimes smuggled in ships like these, but mostly in cheap rubber dinghies.

Thanassis Marmarinos fishes for squid near Skala Sykamineas on Lesvos, Greece. In 2015, when hundreds of refugees arrived daily in overcrowded boats, Marmarinos pulled countless from the sea to safety. His own grandparents were refugees from Asia, giving him a unique insight into the current crisis. He has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for his actions.

Aimilia Kamvisi poses for a portrait in front of her house in Skala Sykamineas on the island of Lesbos, Greece. In 2015, when thousands of refugees arrived daily on the shores around Skala Sykamineas, Kamvisi helped by bringing them food, looking after their children and washing their clothes. She has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for her actions.

Stratis Valamios fishes near Skala Sykamineas on Lesvos, Greece. In 2015, when hundreds of refugees arrived daily in overcrowded boats, Valamios pulled countless from the sea to safety. He has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for his actions.

Konstantina Mpalli stands for a portrait in her home in Skala Sykamineas on the island of Lesbos, Greece. In 2015, when thousands of refugees arrived daily on the shores around Skala Sykamineas, Mpalli helped by bringing them food and looking after their children.

Kostas Pinteris steers his fishing boat back to the port after an unsuccessful morning of fishing, Skala Sykamineas, Lesvos, Greece. When refugees started arriving near the small village he and other locals rescued countless refugees by pulling their boats to the safe shore.

Maristsa Mavrapidou sits for a portraitin her home in Skala Sykamineas on the island of Lesvos, Greece. In 2015, when thousands of refugees started showing up on the shores of the village, she did what she could by bringing food, preparing sandwiches, keeping refugees company at the camps and looking after some of the children.

Konstantina Mpalli, Maristsa Mavrapidou and Aimilia Kamvisi (left to right) sit for a portrait in Skala Sykamineas on the island of Lesvos, Greece. In 2015, when thousands of refugees arrived daily on the shores around Skala Sykamineas, many villagers opened their arms, provided food and rescued them from unseaworthy boats. Several of them, including Kamvisi, were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.